Cleveland Browns LB Paul Kruger has two sacks, eight tackles (three for a loss) and a pass defensed. He's having a breakthrough in the new system designed by head coach Mike Pettine and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil. They have moved Kruger inside and out to create mismatches, and his pass coverage has improved.

Cleveland Browns LBs Paul Kruger, Barkevious Mingo and Jabaal Sheard all rotated in and out with the first-string defense during organized team activities (OTAs) Wednesday, May 21. It is expected to stay that way. "I don't think you can have enough good pass rushers," head coach Mike Pettine said. "The key is to get a lead in the fourth quarter and have fresh pass rushers."

The Cleveland Browns have been extremely pleased with the adjustment of LB Jabaal Sheard from a defensive end in the 3-4 scheme to outside linebacker. If the season opened now, Sheard would likely be one of the team's two outside linebackers along with LB Paul Kruger.

Along with Cleveland Browns LB Barkevious Mingo, LB Quentin Groves is working with the second-team defense behind LB Paul Kruger during the team's offseason workouts. "Quentin is practicing really, really well for us right now," outside linebackers coach Brian Baker said. "All four are what we hoped. It gives us an opportunity - whether it's matchups, or rotation, or whatever - to work those guys in a way that will be most effective for them and us."

Cleveland Browns LB Barkevious Mingo said his goal is to win one of the starting outside linebacker jobs this season but knows it will be hard for him to outperform LB Paul Kruger or LB Jabaal Sheard. "I'm very determined," Mingo said. "That's the goal. That should be everybody's goal. You want to play, you want to help the team win, but you've got to put in the work."